Fronting Robes Square was a three-story building. The first story sold various embroideries and fabrics. The second story housed and sold exclusive jewelry, and the third story contained customer dressing rooms for trying on clothes.
Behind the building was an elegant garden consisting of pavilions, pagodas, and old, sturdy trees. The area was an oasis of calm and beauty, providing a tonic for the soul.
To the left of the garden were the seamstresses' chambers. This was also where the seamstresses of Robes Square usually rested. Farther back was Lan Zhihui's private lodgings, richly decorated and nestled among the plum trees. All the buildings were connected by covered walkways and beautiful landscapes, each with a distinctive flavor.
The ladies usually gathered in the garden. Furnaces were ignited, providing a spring-like warmth. Indeed, many flowers had already blossomed, filling the air with their sweet perfume.
